overdrive
n. uncountablen. a state of working much harder or faster than usual. You use this when someone is doing a lot of work very quickly.
n. a state of intense activity, effort, or productivity that exceeds normal levels. Often used metaphorically to describe mental or physical exertion.
My brain goes into overdrive during final exams.
The marketing team went into overdrive to finish the campaign before the product launch on Monday.
As the deadline approached, the factory's production line went into overdrive, with staff working double shifts to meet the sudden surge in international orders.
From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).
From over- + drive, originally referring to gear ratios over 1:1.
Commonly used in the idiomatic phrase 'into overdrive' following the verbs 'go' or 'kick'.